A 13-year-old girl from Hyderabad died last week after fasting for 68 days for the Jain holy period called Chaumasa, reported NDTV.

The girl, Aradhana, was admitted to a hospital two days after she finished her fast of 68 days due to a cardiac arrest.

Her funeral was celebrated and called ‘shobha yatra’ — a mark of celebration— which was attended by 600 people.

A member of the community, Lata Jain said, “It has been a practice for people to undertake severe penance when they give up even food and water. They are glorified, lauded and honoured at community meetings by the religious elders. They are also showered with gifts. But in this case it was a minor and that is my objection.”

The class 8 student was allowed to give up school so she could fast. Her grandfather Manekchand Samdhariya said that it was known that Aradhana was fasting, “Everyone knew Aradhana was fasting. They came and took selfies with her,” he added. People known to the family have said that the girl had earlier undertaken a fast of 41 days.

Politicians like Telangana minister Padma Rao Goud, Zaheerabad MP BB Patil were present at grand event for the completion of fasting which is called ‘Paarana’.

Child rights activist Shanta Sinha has said that a police complaint must be filed and that the child rights commission must take cognisance.